Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser
The Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser is a cleanser. Our analysis of its 57 ingredients (52 low-risk) rates it Excellent (94/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser is a cleanser. Our analysis of its 57 ingredients (52 low-risk) rates it Excellent (94/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate
(Hair Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Hydrotrope, Skin Conditioning) |
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Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Cocamidopropyl Betaine
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Sufactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
(Cleansing, Hair Conditioning, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Retinol
(Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract | |
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Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Chitosan
(Film Forming, Hair Fixing) |
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Silver Citrate
(Antimicrobial, Deodorant) |
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Sodium PCA
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Betaine
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Sorbitol
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Humectant, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning) |
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Glycine
(Buffering Agent, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Alanine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Proline
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Serine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Threonine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Hair Waving Or Straightening) |
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Arginine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Lysine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent) |
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Glutamic Acid
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent) |
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Zinc Gluconate
(Cosmetic Biocide, Skin Conditioning, Deodorant) |
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Argania Spinosa Kernel Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract
(Lytic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Extract | |
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Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
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Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Perfuming) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine
(Antistatic Agent, Emulsifying, Hair Conditioning, Surfactant) |
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Zea Mays (Corn) Starch
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Increasing Agent) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
(Binding, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate
(Absorbent, Binding, Film Forming) |
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Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Propyl Gallate
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Perfuming) |
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Polysorbate 80
(Denaturant, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Menthol
(Denaturant, External Analgesic, Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Oral Health Caredrug, Masking, Refreshing, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Dry Skin
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Cetearyl Glucoside
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Glycol Distearate
(Opacifying, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Steareth-4
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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PEG-150 Distearate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Hydroxyethylcellulose
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Polyacrylate-13
(Film Forming) |
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Polyisobutene
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
(Chelating Agent) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
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Chlorphenesin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial, Preservative) |
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Fragrance
(Deodorant, Masking, Perfuming) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.
Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.
Retinol
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.
Salicylic Acid
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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